Whether you’re managing a temporary or permanent disability, living in a wheelchair has its challenges. Despite the obvious limitations, it’s surprising how little thought goes into designing wheelchair accessibility in many commercial buildings.

Accessibility has been an ongoing struggle for many people in wheelchairs, both in Gainesville and around the world. Although many businesses take steps to help those of us with mobility issues, there’s still room for improvement in most buildings.

What does wheelchair accessibility mean, and how can companies improve to benefit more people? Let our portable mobility scooters expert explore those topics as they look into wheelchair-accessible businesses.

Rules for Wheelchair Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act was established in 1992. The government enacted the civil rights law to overcome discrimination against disabled individuals. It sought to remove barriers that made it difficult to get a job, housing, education, or access to public places.

Accessibility to public buildings was essential to write into law. Although business owners weren’t trying to discriminate against disabled people, they weren’t taking steps to provide equal access to all.

Basics of Being Wheelchair-Accessible

Who needs wheelchair accessibility? Any business in Gainesville or the rest of the country that offers public accommodations needs to provide access to traditional wheelchairs and nontraditional devices. These can include power wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Some businesses don’t have the means to make updates to become compliant with ADA guidelines. That’s why the government made more lenient rules for buildings built in or before 1992. Once they can easily remove barriers to offer access for more members of the public, they need to do so.

ADA Guidelines

Title III of the ADA outlines the accessible design standards for new and altered buildings. It details crucial design specifications such as path sizes and wheelchair seating in wheelchair-accessible restaurants. It all works to provide equal experiences for all customers.

Businesses need to focus on certain areas in and around their buildings when making changes. If they can only make certain updates due to a limited budget, they need to start with making an appropriate entrance. If they can add a wheelchair ramp, it needs to follow several standards:

• Must be no more than 1 inch in rise for every 20 inches of run
• Ramps must rise no more than 30 inches before meeting a landing
• Ramps must have the lowest practical incline
• Handrails need to attach to ramps rising more than 6 inches off the ground
• Landings need to be at least 60 inches in length
• Ramps have to be at least 36 inches wide
• Curb ramps must have a minimum 36-inch landing

After the entrance, businesses need to worry about providing access to areas around the building. That includes making walking paths at least 36 inches wide and various areas more wheelchair-friendly. Some of the crucial features to think about inside include:

• Installing automatic sliding doors
• Adding door open buttons at an easily reachable height
• Installing elevators or ramps

A priority is including handicapped stalls in restrooms that aid people with various mobility issues. After that, building owners can focus on making easier access to telephones and drinking fountains.

Finally, parking and storage elements can get updates when the rest of the building has been made more accessible. Parking spaces must have clear space next to them to allow for wheelchair lifts and ramps.

The Importance of Wheelchair-Accessible Businesses

The law requires that buildings be built according to new standards, and that older buildings be updated within reason. Businesses around Gainesville that are subject to these rules include:

• Restaurants
• Shopping malls
• Doctors’ offices
• Hotels
• Movie theaters
• Sports arenas
• Fitness centers

If it’s open to the general public, it will need basic wheelchair accessibility. When an owner or landlord isn’t making reasonable updates to their building, they may have to pay thousands of dollars for fines or lawsuits. In some cases, architects and engineers may also be liable for not following design standards.

Stores that aren’t accessible can hurt themselves even more because they block out customers. With more than 3 million people using wheelchairs in the U.S., a more inclusive setup will bring in more traffic and boost a business’s reputation.

How Businesses Can Be More Accessible

Individuals in wheelchairs can’t be lumped into one group. Accounting for a wheelchair alone still leaves out people with more advanced mobility issues. Wheelchair-accessible businesses need to go further to help individuals with issues like limited reach or more complex power devices.

Business owners don’t need to run through the ADA guidelines to start making positive changes. They also don’t have to spend a ton of money.

A simple walk around a building can reveal obstructions that may not cause issues unless you’re in a wheelchair. Even fixing loose floorboards and popped-up nails can make it easy to navigate a floor. For a complete overview of how they can make improvements, businesses can have an accessibility audit.

Stores can also adjust policies to fit the needs of all their customers. For instance, they could allow assistants to enter fitting rooms. If they have issues making the store easy to travel, they could try a curbside pickup option for disabled shoppers.

Businesses can also take proactive approaches by opening up dialogues. If they have trouble finding ways to make their service more accessible, they can reach out to their customers on social media or in forums. For individuals in a wheelchair, taking time to talk with businesses about how to become wheelchair-accessible can help create more inclusion.

Accessibility for Everyone in Gainesville

Living with a disability makes everyday activities in and around Gainesville more challenging. Since the ADA established its standards, the situation will only improve for those in wheelchairs.

You can help promote wheelchair accessibility by talking with local government offices and businesses directly. By taking small steps and showing consideration, we’ll achieve equal access for all.

Are your wheelchair needs changing? Our team at Freedom Mobility Center, Inc. has been providing some of the highest-quality power wheelchairs to our customers on the East coast for over 16 years. Contact us today to learn how we can help you upgrade your power wheelchair.